Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada 2022

The finals of Bhoinn Óir Seán Ó Riada will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta this Friday evening, 11th March from 7 p.m. It will be also broadcast live on their Facebook page. The final features three local musicians – Maura O’ Connor from Abbeyfeale, Éimhear Flannery from Rockchapel and Aoife Murphy from Listowel.

This year’s competition is for metal reed instruments – box, melodeon, mouth organ and concertina – and Peadar Ó Riada will present the final live from the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork.  The winner will receive the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal and €2500. Well-known musicians Mary MacNamara, Noel Hill and Charlie Harris will have the unenviable task of

picking the winner. As well as technical accuracy in the playing, they will also be looking for musicality and heart. 

The finalists this year are Aaron Glancy from Geevagh, Co. Sligo; Amhlaoibh Ó Síocháin Ó Beoláin from Fermoy, Co. Cork; Antóin Ó Cathail from Ballycotton, Co. Cork; Éabha Ní Mhurchú from Ovens, Co. Cork; Aoife Murphy from Listowel, Co. Kerry; Clíona Halley from Castlemartyr, Co. Cork; Colm de Brun from Cree, Co. Clare; Damien O’Reilly from Corofin, Co. Clare; Éimhear Flannery from Rockchapel, Co. Cork; Joseph Mannion from Colligan, Co. Waterford; Maura O’Connor from Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick; Ruby Falvey from Ballylongford, Co. Kerry; Ryan Sheridan from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo; Sárán Ó Maolagáin from Dundalk, Co. Louth; and William Holmes from Rathcabbin, Co. Tipperary.   

This year’s sponsors are RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Iontaobhas Fódhla, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Gael Linn, IMRO and the Rochestown Park Hotel.